Advanced mobile ad-hoc protocol ready for deployment
The Multicast MANET Ad-hoc Routing Protocol (MMARP) was developed from the research carried out in the Mobile IP based Network Developments (MIND) project. The research foresaw the need to extend the IP mobile networks for 4G concepts and specified an advanced IP network layer that can support ad-hoc networks attached to fixed IP networks. An innovative feature that makes it stand out and ready for deployment into existing IP multicast networks, is its full compatibility with present day multicast equipment and protocols. Its principal advantage is its ability to offer smooth multicast interoperation with fixed networks, whilst also being able to support traditional IP nodes and is IP multicast compliant. Further, TCP/IP stacks of existing terminals do not require any changes. Having been analytically modelled, it has demonstrated that it has sound performance and scalability when compared to other multicast ad-hoc routing protocols, and has already had a successful trial implementation. The trial, which is taking place at the University of Murcia, Spain, in association with Agora Systems SA is realising continuous improvements as and when they are defined.